By Els William
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with Halliburton Energy Services, TotalEnergies and Hobark Consultants Services, has commenced a specialised Well Testing Training Programme aimed at strengthening local capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The kick-off ceremony was held on Tuesday at Ave Maria International Academy, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, drawing industry stakeholders, programme facilitators and selected trainees.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe (FNSE, FIPS), reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to human capital development and the deliberate closure of critical skills gaps in the oil and gas sector and its linked industries. He was represented by Mrs. Tarilate Teide-Bribena, Manager, Human Capacity Development (HCD), NCDMB.
According to Ogbe, the training programme aligns with the Board’s statutory mandate to deepen Nigerian participation across the petroleum value chain through targeted capacity-building initiatives. He described the well testing programme as a strategic intervention designed to equip beneficiaries with industry-relevant competencies and improve their employability in a highly technical segment of upstream operations.
Mrs. Teide-Bribena told the trainees that the programme represented a “life-changing opportunity,” urging them to demonstrate discipline, professionalism and commitment throughout the training period. She stressed the importance of adhering to global best practices, noting that the success of Nigeria’s local content drive depends largely on the quality and competitiveness of its skilled workforce.
The NCDMB has, in recent years, expanded its portfolio of training and development programmes in collaboration with international oil companies and service providers, as part of efforts to ensure that Nigerians possess the technical expertise required to operate and manage complex oil and gas assets.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the representative of TotalEnergies, Mr. Daniel Dents, reiterated the company’s commitment to the continuous empowerment of Nigerians through capacity development initiatives. He encouraged the trainees to cooperate fully with programme facilitators and one another to ensure the overall success of the training.
An industry expert, who prefers anonymity, say the Well Testing Training Programme is expected to contribute to Nigeria’s broader objective of reducing reliance on expatriate expertise, while enhancing operational efficiency and value retention within the domestic economy.